The Impact of Child Abuse on the Psycho-Spiritual and Religious Status of Maltese College Students

This correlational study examined the potential effects of child abuse history on the psycho-spiritual status of Maltese college students. Data collected from 312 subjects indicated that 10.9% of the sample qualified as “severely” abused. Furthermore, in examining the correlations noted above, a sequential pattern of relationships appeared to emerge, which was clarified through a path analysis. Child abuse seems to impact more selectively closer to the traumatic experience. Results also point at spirituality as a potential resource in treating child abuse. The social and pastoral implications of these findings were discussed.